Chapter 146: Third Brother Is Just Too Smart

Bai Yunqi made sure to return home before his third brother.

He wasn’t stupid. At a time like this, whoever came back last was the one most likely to get scolded.

As long as he wasn’t the last to return, he’d be safe!

On the way back, Bai Yunqi kept thinking about how his second brother seemed like a completely different person.

He couldn’t figure out why Second Brother had handed a blueprint to the blacksmith, nor why he’d acted so composed and steady along the way—completely unlike how he usually behaved at home.

While Second Brother was away, Bai Yunqi had secretly taken a peek at that blueprint. It was for a simple dagger, with a delicate little flower carved into the hilt.

Outsiders might not notice anything unusual.

But as someone who lived and ate under the same roof, Bai Yunqi knew—Second Brother definitely had secrets.

Besides, if even their parents had been replaced, then having a “new” Second Brother didn’t seem all that strange anymore.

Then…

Bai Yunqi raised an eyebrow, suddenly thinking of the youngest ones at home.

Could Third Brother and their little sister have been replaced too?

“Bai Goudan!”

“Hmm?”

His father’s roar snapped Bai Yunqi’s attention back in an instant.

He looked up to see his father standing imposingly at the doorway, broom in hand, clearly lying in wait for him.

It reminded him of something.

Didn’t the disciples from the sect next door love pulling stunts like this—waiting by the door after training to pick fights?

But never mind that.

Bai Yunqi immediately opened his mouth and shouted, “Dad! It’s me, Bai Yunqi! Bai Yunqi!”

Bai Tian bellowed back, “Bai Goudan! Bai Goudan! Goudanzi!!!”

Bai Yunqi: …

Forget it. Negotiations have broken down.

Quick question: Is it legal to hit your own dad?

No one answered him, but the broom certainly did.

Bai Yunqi took a cautious step back.

With a loud smack, the broom hit the ground.

“Wait! Dad, you’re actually swinging at me?!”

Still, seeing that the broom had missed, Bai Yunqi knew his father wasn’t really trying to hit him.

But he also knew exactly what to do in this situation.

You had to give your dad enough face. Besides, his father wasn’t as agile as he was. A few laps around the courtyard and the old man would give up the chase.

Bai Yunqi was in high spirits.

So, he started running circles around his dad again.

“Dad, stop hitting me!”

“Dad, what did I even do this time—ow, ow, ow!”

“Mom… save your poor eldest son…”

Soon enough, the whole neighborhood could hear the Bai family disciplining their child.

The eldest son’s wails were downright pitiful, every sentence invoking his parents, trying to stir up some parental sympathy.

“Daddy, please stop, don’t hit me anymore…”

Juanjuan stepped in to block her father, clearly frightened, her voice trembling.

Bai Yun’an, watching from the side: ?

【Wait, this works? If I’d known, I would’ve used this pity play too. Like Dad could actually land a hit on Big Brother? What a joke!】

Juanjuan: ?

He didn’t get hit?

But Big Brother’s cries were so convincing!

Jiang Dai walked over to check on her seemingly battered eldest son.

“Are you hurt?”

Before Bai Yunqi could answer, Bai Tian cut in, “Hurt? I didn’t even land a single hit! Just dirtied his robe a little, not a scratch on him!”

Jiang Dai: …

【Fine, even if it was just for show, at least it looked convincing.】

“Exactly! So why were you trying to hit me, Dad?!”

Bai Tian set the broom aside and repeated what Bai Yun’an had said earlier.

Bai Yunqi: ?

He couldn’t help but glance at his younger brother.

【Okay, that’s how it happened… but why does it feel like Third Brother set me up on purpose?】

Juanjuan looked down at her toes.

Big Brother wasn’t wrong. Third Brother had, in fact, said he was setting him up.

Under Big Brother’s suspicious gaze, Bai Yun’an feigned innocence with practiced ease.

Just then, another figure appeared at the doorway.

Bai Yunqi’s eyes lit up. He immediately pointed at Bai Yunxing, who had just returned.

“Dad! Second Brother’s back! Go hit him!”

Bai Tian: ?

【Ha! You little brat, trying to rile me up? I’ve got a temper, sure, but I don’t take orders from anyone! You want me to hit Second Brother just like that? What a loss of face!】

Juanjuan: …

Sometimes, hearing people’s inner thoughts was just plain exhausting.

Bai Yunxing looked at his eldest brother, who was trying to sic their father on him the moment he walked in.

He pressed his lips together, then bowed his head sincerely under everyone’s gaze and said, “Dad, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have gone out on my own. Even though I left a note, it was still irresponsible. Please punish me.”

Bai Yunqi’s pupils contracted slightly.

【No way! This is bad for me! Second Brother always seemed honest and obedient, but who knew he was this cunning?!】

Bai Yun’an watched from the corner, unable to hold back a smirk.

【Big Brother really is a riot. But it’s clear he enjoys this too. He’s totally a masochist. Not that Dad can actually catch him.】

【This kind of boring drama? Not my thing.】

The inner thoughts of her two older brothers echoed almost simultaneously in Juanjuan’s mind.

She turned her gaze to their father.

Then she saw him, who had just been scolding Big Brother moments ago, now clearing his throat seriously.

“You really shouldn’t sneak out in the middle of the day like that. But at least you left a note for your mother and me. Run two laps around the courtyard tonight!”

After saying that, Bai Tian turned deliberately to Bai Yunqi. “And you, no more running. You’ve run enough already!”

“Yes, sir!”

Bai Yunxing nodded without complaint, as if this was only right.

Bai Yunqi raised an eyebrow.

【Huh. Dad didn’t hit Second Brother, but he did punish him. That’s actually pretty fair.】

Bai Tian nodded in satisfaction. 【Punishment is still necessary. Otherwise, the eldest might feel slighted. After all…】

【When siblings don’t get along, it’s usually the parents who failed.】

“Mom, Dad, Manager Cao is dead…”

Bai Yunxing suddenly spoke, dropping a bombshell.

But really, the only ones who were shocked were Bai Tian and Jiang Dai.

After Bai Yunxing explained everything he had seen, both parents sensed something was off.

Bai Tian: 【No way! Am I turning into Detective Conan¹? Everywhere I go, someone ends up dead?!】

Jiang Dai: 【Is this the protagonist effect? Are Bai Tian and I supposed to solve this now? What a joke. We’ll be lucky not to get killed ourselves!】

“Things aren’t safe right now. You kids stay put. Starting tomorrow, Bai Tian, you’ll take them to and from school.”

Jiang Dai’s first concern was for the four youngest children.

Then she called Bai Tian inside to analyze the current situation.

Out in the courtyard, Juanjuan’s mind was filled with the overlapping inner thoughts of her three brothers. And what made it worse—she couldn’t ignore them.

Each of them was thinking about something intense and crucial.

Big Brother was wondering who Second Brother really was, and even speculating whether Third Brother and she had been replaced too.

Second Brother’s thoughts were full of things like Northern Barbarians, Zhenxiu Restaurant, and strategists—words she didn’t fully understand, but they sounded impressive.

As for Third Brother…

Juanjuan turned her head and found him staring right at her.

Those smiling eyes seemed to pierce straight into her soul, as if trying to uncover her every thought.

【Tsk! This little one’s Favorability Points just went up again. How nice. The more I look at her, the more I like her.】

Juanjuan relaxed a little and gave Third Brother a small smile.

Good. He wasn’t suspicious of her.

Bai Yun’an narrowed his eyes slightly. 【But who exactly is Second Brother? Everything he’s done seems like he’s trying to make contact with someone.】

【Especially that blueprint. It’s not for forging, not for sale, just left there, like he’s waiting for someone to come pick it up.】

【Could it be… Second Brother was originally from this world?】

Juanjuan couldn’t help but take a small step back, then quickly squatted down as if her leg had gone numb.

But only she knew—Third Brother was terrifyingly sharp.

He had already guessed that much!

---

Translator’s Notes